Subscribers are calling out Prime Video India over what looks suspiciously like a bait-and-switch tactic on Crunchyroll subscriptions.
On the storefront, the anime streamer is listed at ₹79/month, a price that tempts fans eager for affordable access to their favorite shows. But once users set up auto-pay, they’re billed ₹99/month instead.
That ₹20 difference might look small on paper, but for many, it’s the principle. When a platform displays one price and charges another, it erodes trust. Streaming subscriptions already suffer from rising costs, hidden bundles, and confusing tiers.
The least platforms can do is show transparency in pricing.
Prime Video has been aggressively expanding its store with add-on subscriptions, positioning itself as a one-stop hub for streaming. But missteps like this only add to subscriber frustration. Users expect clarity: if Crunchyroll actually costs ₹99, say so upfront. Instead, this discrepancy feels like a classic case of misrepresentation, whether intentional or sloppy execution.
For anime fans, the issue cuts deeper. Crunchyroll has built its reputation on dedicated fandoms who already navigate multiple subscriptions to stay updated with simulcasts. Getting charged more than advertised through Prime Video feels like being taken advantage of.
If Prime Video wants to keep positioning itself as a gateway for global content, it can’t afford these lapses. Transparency isn’t optional, it’s the baseline. Anything less looks like a scam.
And this is where platforms like Netflix take the cake where they are synonyms with transparency.